The Best Home Warranty Companies in Virginia: Get the Best Coverage and Value in 2024

Trends and Important Information About Home Warranty Companies in Virginia

Virginia residents have around a dozen licensed home warranty companies to choose from in the state. With recent increases in home sales, new and first-time homeowners are increasingly purchasing home warranties after closing to protect themselves from unexpected costs.

In 2023, home warranty companies in Virginia came under scrutiny when Fidelity National Home Warranty Company was named in a wrongful-death lawsuit after an 82-year-old woman passed away while waiting for her air conditioner to be fixed.

For this reason, Fidelity National does not make our list of companies to consider for a Virginia home warranty. We also excluded a popular home warranty company in Virginia called Elite Home Warranty based on the fact that the company was only established in 2020.

Top Home Warranty Companies in Virginia

Best Overall: Liberty Home Guard

Best Starter Plan: First American Home Warranty

Best Comprehensive Coverage: American Home Shield

Best for Free Roof Leak Coverage: Select Home Warranty

Highly Rated in the Industry: Choice Home Warranty

1. Best Overall: Liberty Home Guard (LHG)

As a newer company established in 2017, reviewers sometimes overlook Liberty Home Guard. However, a solid “A” rating with the BBB, a customer review average of 4.7/5 stars, and a low number of customer complaints on record prove that the new brand on the block can also be a strong performer.

LHG’s advantage over competitors is that it doesn’t need to catch up with the digital-first era because it was founded in the digital-first era. Customers enjoy live chat, easy 24/7 claim filing, and an expectation that a tech will be there within 24 to 48 hours.

We also wanted to secure the top spot for Liberty Home Guard on our list of the best home warranty companies in Virginia because this is a rare company that offers pest control and limited roof leak coverage in the same plans.

Liberty Home Guard Overview:

• Customers can choose Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, or Total Home
• Price tiers cost $58.33 monthly/$699.99 yearly, $62.49 monthly/$749.99 annually, $66.66 monthly/$799.99 annually
• Upgrading to a systems and appliance plan covering 15 items instead of a single plan costs just a few dollars more per month
• 30-day labor guarantee
• 90-day parts guarantee
• Coverage caps at $2,000 for most appliances and systems
• Founded in 2017
• “A” rating from the BBB
• 4.7 out of 5 stars based on nearly 2,000 reviews from Trustpilot users
• Based in Brooklyn, Connecticut

Why We Chose Liberty Home Guard

While Liberty isn’t the cheapest option, customers get a real value when they bump up to the Total Home plan that covers all major home appliances and systems. We also like that you can choose from close to 40 add-on coverage options for just a few dollars each per month.

2. Best Starter Plan: First American Home Warranty (FAHW)

First American Home Warranty is the top choice if you don’t want to pay for anything beyond a starter plan. While many of the home warranty companies Virginia residents can select make you choose between appliance-only or systems-only base plans, First American Home Warranty offers a Starter plan that covers all major appliances and seven home systems. Members can also upgrade to the Essential or Premium plans to cover more appliances and specialty systems.

First American Home Warranty Overview:

• Coverage limits are $3,500 to $7,000 per appliance
• Price tiers are $47, $57, and $72 per month
• Basic tier covers refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, built-in microwave, toilet, plumbing, electrical, ductwork, and heating
• Upgrading brings coverage for air conditioning, water heater, clothes washer and dryer, exhaust fans, garbage disposal, mini-split systems, garage door opener, and much more
• Most add-on options cost just $2 to $7 more per month
• Canceling is free within the first 30 days
• Founded in 1984
• “B” rating with the BBB
• Based in Santa Rosa, California

Why We Chose First American Home Warranty

While we believe that the Essential and Premium plans offered by FAHW offer great value, we appreciate that homeowners who don’t want to upgrade to a more expensive plan just to cover all the basics can choose the $47 Starter plan from First American Home Warranty.

This company’s strong reputation dating back to 1984 also gives us confidence. First American’s “Great” rating on Trustpilot based on 11,000 reviews seals the deal with some real-world input from actual customers. This only adds to the peace of mind of working with a company that’s been in the home warranty business for four decades.

3. Best Comprehensive Coverage: American Home Shield (AHS)

A leading home warranty company since 1971, Memphis-based American Home Shield has spent 50 years creating plans that keep up with the changing needs of homeowners. The standout feature of AHS is its comprehensive plan coverage, protecting nearly all home systems and appliances at their middle- and top-tiers.
Customers can choose the SilverShield, ShieldGold, or ShieldPlatium plans when signing up. While the big draw of AHS is that they cover 23 major home systems and appliances, customers do pay slightly higher premiums at AHS compared to other companies.

American Home Shield Overview:

• Coverage includes heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, kitchen and laundry appliances, and roof leaks
• Service fees per call start at $75
• $6,000 maximum for appliances
• No coverage limit for major home systems
• Price tiers for plans are $29.99, $49.99, and $69.99
• “B” rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with thousands of four-star and five-star reviews
• Add-on coverage available for pool and spa equipment, home electronics, septic pumps, and well pumps
• No maintenance records required for covered items
• Authorization can take anywhere from 15 minutes for smaller jobs to 72 hours for larger jobs
• More than 2 million households already trust American Home Shield
• Network of 14,000 contractors
• Based in Memphis, Tennessee

Why We Chose American Home Shield

AHS comes close to the top of the list with help from its three plan tiers that allow homeowners to pick and choose coverage based on their priorities. While we wish AHS offered an introductory plan with appliance-only coverage, the comprehensiveness of the middle and top tiers make up for that.
AHS’s good reputation, lightning-fast claims responses, and cap-free systems coverage also help this Virginia home warranty option stand out against competitors that might offer slightly cheaper plans.

4. Best for Free Roof Leak Coverage: Select Home Warranty (SHW)

If you’ve been looking for a Virginia home warranty company that offers roof leak coverage that doesn’t cost a fortune, Select Home Warranty deserves a look. We like that you don’t even have to upgrade to get this perk. The Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care plans all include roof coverage.

Select Home Warranty (SHW) Overview:

• Customers choose between Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care
• Packages go from $52.50 to $56.25 per month
• $500 cap for appliances
• $3,000 caps for HVAC and air conditioning coverage
• 90-day workmanship warranty
• 12-hour turnaround time on claims submissions
• Service fees range from $75 to $100
• Plans are discounted when you sign up for multi-year membership
• Founded in 2012
• “B” rating from the BBB
• Based in Mahwah, New Jersey

Why We Chose Select Home Warranty

The quick turnaround times really won us over. Customers can usually expect claims to be serviced within 48 hours. Of course, the free roof coverage creates built-in value.

5. Highly Rated in the Industry: Choice Home Warranty (CHW)

Choice Home Warranty is the darling of the consumer review industry. In recent years, it has been named a top pick in home warranties by U.S. News and World Report, Today’s Homeowner, and HomeWarrantyReviews.com. While we don’t consider this to be the best home warranty in Virginia, it does rank within our top five. We also recently named it our #3 pick for the best home warranty in California. When shopping for a home warranty in Virginia from CHW, homeowners can pick between the Basic Plan and Total Plan.

Choice Home Warranty Overview

• Monthly pricing ranges from $46.67 to $55
• Flat $85 dollar service fee
• 60-day guarantee for workmanship
• 90-day guarantee for parts
• “C” rating with the BBB
• Network of 25,000 contractors
• Founded in 2009
• Based in Edison, New Jersey

Why We Chose Choice Home Warranty

Choice has a solid business reputation. This company also offers some of the lowest monthly rates for getting a home warranty in Virginia. We also liked that most customers get responses just four hours after filing claims.

What Is a Home Warranty Company?

A home warranty shouldn’t be confused with home insurance. The purpose of a home warranty policy is to protect a home’s major systems and appliances. While plans generally cover items inside a home, some plans or add-on options will provide coverage for roofs, well parts, and pools. Companies that offer home warranties typically use a network of licensed contractors to deploy qualified technicians to your home as soon as possible. With help from exclusive contracts, these companies can generally get a contractor to your home faster than you could on your own. A home warranty company handles all scheduling and billing with contractors on your behalf. They’ll also pay your contractor for services, parts, repairs, or replacements.

While each home warranty company handles coverage a little differently, the business model typically looks like this:

• Customers select a plan from a list consisting of two to three options with different price ranges
• Customers can also select add-on options for roofing, septic, garage doors, spas, pools, secondary appliances, pest control, and dozens of other home components
• Customers pay a monthly premium
• Customers place service calls by phone or online when a system or appliance in their home breaks down
• When a service call is placed, a service fee is collected to act as a deductible for the covered work that will be done
• A contractor comes to your home to diagnose the issue
• Once approval is given from the home warranty company, the contractor will return to complete the work
• The home warranty company pays the contractor

How Home Warranty Companies Determine Price

Generally, low-tier plans will cover either home appliances or home systems. As you move up in price, you’ll see plans that cover both.
What are the Monthly Prices for Basic Home Warranty Plans?
The table below breaks down the monthly price of each of our top picks’ lowest–tier plans.

How to Choose the Best Virginia Home Warranty Company

You really have to dig into each policy to make sure that the items that are important to you are covered. In addition to paying attention to monthly premiums, you should also look at service fees to determine how costs truly break down once you begin to actually use your home warranty policy.

Price is just one component of finding the best policy.

Carefully read all of the covered items under appliances and home systems. You should also look at coverage caps for both repairs and replacements. A plan with an appliance cap that totals several thousand dollars will more than pay for itself with just one claim. It’s also important to take a long look at exclusions to ensure that the issues you’re worried about in your home are covered. Finally, examine add-on features to find the plan that lets you build what can feel like a custom coverage plan by paying just a few dollars more per month to get coverage for specialty or high-end features at your home.

Do I Need a Home Warranty Plan?

Unlike a homeowner insurance policy that might be mandated by your mortgage company, a home warranty policy in Virginia is 100% optional. Consider a home warranty plan if you’re worried about being able to afford unexpected repairs for your kitchen appliances, laundry room appliances, heating, plumbing, electrical, or other home system.

How We Chose the Best Home Warranty Companies in Virginia

In order to narrow down the best home warranty companies in Virginia, we evaluated several major companies that are legally licensed to offer warranties in the state. We then used the following metrics to determine the best in each category:

• Pricing
• Coverage robustness
• Customer service
• Ratings from BBB and other reputable sources
• Customer reviews
• Years in business

Liberty Home Guard Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Rare “A” rating from the BBB
• Low complaint level online
• Tons of positive customer reviews
• Live chat available
• Robust coverage that includes roof leaks and pest damage
• Tons of custom add-on options
• 60-day workmanship guarantee

Cons:

• Higher premiums
• Rigorous policy on pre-existing conditions
• This is a newer company that lacks the track record of competitors

American Home Shield Pros and Cons

Pros:

• In business for 50 years
• Extremely comprehensive coverage for electrical, plumbing, and appliances
• Highest tier covers 23 systems and appliances in total
• Generous $6,000 max for appliances
• No coverage limits for covered major home systems
• Age, maintenance history, and unknown pre-existing conditions don’t matter
• Low service fees compared to competitors
• Fast turnaround times on claims
• Decent consumer ratings and BBB score

Cons:

• Lack of appliance-only tier forces most people into a higher price
• 30-day workmanship guarantee is short for the industry
• Lower-than-expected Trustpilot rating based on the number of four-star and five-star ratings

First American Home Warranty Pros and Cons

Pros:

• In business for 40 years
• 24/7 claims availability that includes weekends and holidays
• It’s free to cancel within the first 30 days if you change your mind
• Basic starter plan covers a decent number of appliances and systems
• Robust add-on options
• Coverage caps are generous at even the cheapest tier
• Decent BBB rating

Cons:

• Lacks a systems-only plan
• Coverage for roof leaks is very slim

Select Home Warranty Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lets customers save by signing up for multi-year plans
• Offers a low-cost premium plan for appliances and home systems compared to competitors
• High coverage limits for HVAC and air conditioning
• Strong customer service
• Recently went from a “C” to a “B” rating with the BBB
• 90-day repair guarantee

Cons:

• $500 cap for appliances
• Lots of exclusions
• High denial rates for everything from pre-existing conditions to owner maintenance habits
• Claims are scrutinized heavily before acceptance

Choice Home Warranty Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Has earned accolades from publications and review sites
• Most customers get claims responses in four hours

Cons:

• Limited add-on coverage
• “C” Rating with the BBB
• Subject of a 2019 lawsuit by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office regarding inaccurate claims made to customers

Home Warranty Companies Rating Criteria:

Rating Breakdown for Liberty Home Guard: 9.4

Rating Breakdown for First American Home Warranty: 8.5

Rating Breakdown for American Home Shield: 8.4

Rating Breakdown for Select Home Warranty: 8.1

Rating Breakdown for Choice Home Warranty: 7.9

Sources:

https://www.bbb.org/us/tn/memphis/profile/home-warranty-plans/american-home-shield-0543-22001027
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/ahs.com
https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/canoga-park/profile/home-warranty-plans/first-american-home-warranty-1216-18779
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/go.fahw.com
https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/boca-raton/profile/home-warranty-plans/cinch-home-services-inc-0633-4004196
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/cinchhomeservices.com
https://www.bbb.org/us/nj/edison/profile/home-warranty-plans/choice-home-warranty-0221-90048733
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.choicehomewarranty.com
https://www.bbb.org/us/nj/mahwah/profile/home-warranty-plans/select-home-warranty-llc-0221-90155584
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/selecthomewarranty.com
https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/home-warranty-plans/liberty-home-guard-0121-177391
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.libertyhomeguard.com